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Citing safety, 49ers' Chris Borland becomes latest NFL player to retire

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Mary Bruno

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Mary Bruno Jul 7, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Citing safety, 49ers' Chris Borland becomes latest NFL player to retire</h1>
                <h2><p>San Francisco Linebacker Chris Borland became the latest — and youngest (at 24) — NFL player to retire rather than risk serious brain injury. "I don't think it's worth the risk," Borland told ESPN. One of the league's top rookies last season, Borland follows</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/mary-bruno-crosscut-com/">Mary Bruno</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>San Francisco Linebacker Chris Borland became the latest — and youngest (at 24) — NFL player to retire rather than risk serious brain injury. "I don't think it's worth the risk," Borland <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/12496480/san-francisco-49ers-linebacker-chris-borland-retires-head-injury-concerns?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">told ESPN</a>. One of the league's top rookies last season, Borland follows 49ers teammate Patrick Willis, seven-time All-Pro linebacker, St. Louis cornerback Cortland Finnegan, Titans quarterback Jake Locker and Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds who all retired in the off-season over safety concerns.</p><p>Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson tweeted in response:</p><p>No offense to anyone but I'm playing until I can't anymore. I love this game to much. — Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz54) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bwagz54/status/577675890164813826?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">March 17, 2015</a></p><p>Pleasure playing with you Chris Borland <a href="https://twitter.com/UWBadgers?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">@UWBadgers</a> and against you for the <a href="https://twitter.com/49ers?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">@49ers</a> Praying for you. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnWisconsin?src=hash&ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">#OnWisconsin</a></p><p>— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DangeRussWilson/status/577671502729908225?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">March 17, 2015</a></p><p>NFL super agent Leigh Steinberg weighed in too, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_24980828/purdy-leigh-steinberg-sees-nfl-future?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">telling the San Jose Mercury News</a> that the fear of concussion presents an "existential threat to football," scaring moms and dads of young footballers — and now the pro players themselves.</p>
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San Francisco Linebacker Chris Borland became the latest — and youngest (at 24) — NFL player to retire rather than risk serious brain injury. "I don't think it's worth the risk," Borland told ESPN. One of the league's top rookies last season, Borland follows 49ers teammate Patrick Willis, seven-time All-Pro linebacker, St. Louis cornerback Cortland Finnegan, Titans quarterback Jake Locker and Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds who all retired in the off-season over safety concerns.

Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson tweeted in response:

No offense to anyone but I'm playing until I can't anymore. I love this game to much. — Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz54) March 17, 2015

Pleasure playing with you Chris Borland @UWBadgers and against you for the @49ers Praying for you. #OnWisconsin

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 17, 2015

NFL super agent Leigh Steinberg weighed in too, telling the San Jose Mercury News that the fear of concussion presents an "existential threat to football," scaring moms and dads of young footballers — and now the pro players themselves.

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Mary Bruno

By Mary Bruno

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,